Classic Lens for 4x5

[Mongo]

If you're looking for something cheap to try, keep your eyes open for an old Kodak Autograpnic 3A folding camera on eBay. The negative size was 3 1/4 x 5 1/2, so the lenses generally cover 4x5 adequately. The shutters are usually limited to a few speeds (1/50, 1/25, T, and B are common speeds), and the lenses are uncoated.

I picked up a couple of these cameras on eBay for a song (I intend to make one of them into a 6x14 panoramic cameras using an old 90mm Angulon lens and a homemade 120 adapter)...the lenses on mine were in the 170-180mm range, clean and clear, and the shutters operate very well. I'm going to play with the lenses on 4x5 soon; I assume I'll get that "old time" look from at least one of them.

[David H. Bebbington]

One cheap option worth exploring is a Victorian lens of the "Rapid Rectilinear" type - examples will often have this name inscribed on them, as a rough rule of thumb, if it's in a brass mount and has maximum aperture f8, it's an RR. These lenses (if in good condition after all this time) have good central sharpness at full aperture going to interestingly out-of-focus edges (which will sharpen up on stopping down). This is contrast to early anastigmats, which often seem soft all over until topped down. This effect will depend on focal length of course, most pronounced (on 4x5") with a 5 inch lens (originally made for 3 1/4 x 4 1.4"), less so with an 8 inch lens originally made for 4 3/4 x 6 1/2". I have a very good 8" RR and a quite good 5", they cost me £25 and £12 respectively.

[Ole]

German lenses called "Aplanat" are the same as Rapid Rectilinear. There are three basic types - fast "Portraitaplanat" often f:4.5 to f:6, "Universalaplanat" usually f:7 to f:8, and "Weitwinkelaplanat" from f:12 to f:18. There are also lenses with other, sometimes misleading names which are aplanats - the Rodenstock Hemi-anastigmat is a good example (and a nice lens too, I have a perfect 300mm )

NIce Universalaplanats or Rapid Rectilinears can often be found for very little money. The cheapest ones will be unnamed, then the prices tend to increase with the fame of the maker.